Phase 1 of Admedus HSV-2 trial achieves primary endpoint

Admedus (ASX:AHX) has announced interim study results on its phase 1 trial of a therapeutic vaccine for herpes simplex virus (HSV-2). The vaccine achieved the primary endpoint of the study by being safe in the study subjects and, additionally, was able to generate a T-cell response.

The US CDC estimates that one in six people in the US between the age of 14 and 49 have contracted herpes, an infection which currently has no cure. Admedus’s core technology, based on the work of Professor Ian Frazer and his team, looks at stimulating the immune response to enable a patient to fight against diseases.

Admedus CEO Lee Rodne said the study indicates “an encouraging result for the core vaccine technology and provides us with the basis for not only progressing the herpes therapeutic vaccine program, but also preparing the human papillomavirus vaccine for initial clinical studies as a therapeutic against HPV and cervical cancer”.

The dosing of study subjects was completed in December 2013 but further analysis of the data in still ongoing. Once this analysis is complete, said Professor Frazer, “the team will be looking to take this program into a second clinical study in patients infected with the herpes virus”.

Admedus (ASX:AHX) shares were trading unchanged at $0.16 as of around 1 pm Monday.